Military Vehicles Magazine • OCTOBER 2019 67
Timbers, PSP (pierced steel planking), scraps of wood includ-
ing pallets and wood shipping boxes were recycled for use, and
even steel CONEX containers were enlisted into the construc-
tion. Sandbag with several feet of dirt as overhead cover were
used to protect fi ghting positions, personnel, critical equipment
and supplies, including rounds and powder for the artillery and
mortars. Typically, the artillery gun and mortar positions as well
as the occasional helicopter parking positions were revetments
with a 3 to 8-foot earthen berms pushed up around them in a U
shape or even in a 360-degree circle.
The terrain was used to benefi t construction and many bun-
kers were built into the side of the mountain, thus reducing time
and labor to complete. Drainage features were enhanced to di-
vert water from heavy rains from
impacting critical positions.
In what could be described as a
well-planned, complex, and intri-
cate dance, the needs were met in
a timely manner, additional equip-
ment and supplies began to arrive
by convoy. This included fuel,
culvert piping, empty sandbags,
barbed wire, lubricants, shop vans,
compressors, and other motor pool
components and supplies.
Each unit assigned to the fi re-
base was essentially its own self-
supporting entity, bringing its
own equipment, facilities, logis-
tics, and support. It occupied an
assigned geographic area on the
base. When that unit left for reas-
signment, it took everything it had
brought in and the area would usu-
ally be assigned to another unit.
As the top of the hill was fl at-
tened and excavated, artillery bat-
teries began to arrive including the
ubiquitous 105mm fi eld guns, 155mm and 8-inch guns, and the
huge 175mm self-propelled guns. Lower down the slope and be-
low the crest, supporting elements were dug in. This included
an area claimed by the 591st Engineer Company. The 591st es-
tablished a motor pool/maintenance/repair point for their equip-
ment and the mechanics were always busy keeping machinery
operational and on the job.
Many of the D7s were old, well used and tired needing a lot
of maintenance and did not have the armored operator cages as
frequently seen in photographs. These Caterpillars were subse-
quently turned in for replacement for new D7Es with armored
cabs, and a few were supplied with Rome Plow blades to facili-
tate clearing of vegetation and timber.